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Klemens Adrion Blog Entry |
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September 8, 2023, 3:00:36 AM 9/8/23: r/SketchDaily theme, "Free Draw Friday." This week's character from my anthro WWII storyline is Dr. Klemens Adrion. He's the kindly psychotherapist who treats Antje Werner as well as helps her escape her increasingly fanatical husband, Jürgen. There'll be more about him later in my art Tumblr and Toyhou.se. Regarding his design, he's a Leonberger. TUMBLR EDIT: Dr. Klemens Adrion is a relatively minor character who appears only briefly in the main story, toward the end, though he features prominently in another minor character's, Antje Werner's, sidestory. (I've never explained this, but LOTS of the plot I've been outlining occurs in sidestories and backstories rather than the main story, with quite a few of these characters either dying off the page or being dead before the main story takes place, though given the plot's fluid--and unwritten--nature, this all rather blends together.) Result is I don't know much about his own history or background as I haven't had the time to brainstorm it yet. Most of his part in the plot has been outlined already in Antje's and Senta's entries. He obviously opposes the Nazi regime. Many psychiatric clinics fall prey to the National Socialist ideals which include "cleansing" the Fatherland of undesirable elements such as the mentally inferior, and indeed, psychiatric patients are among the first to exterminated, even before the Jews, in mobile gas chambers. (Kolten Himmel narrowly avoids this fate, as he's taken away from his father Otto by the state yet by chance is housed in an institution that doesn't participate in the executions.) For whatever reason, Dr. Adrion disagrees with this mindset; I suspect it has to do with possible previous experience with veterans of the Great War. I'm unsure if he served, himself; whether he did or not, he seems to have been exposed to soldiers who were wounded in the war, given the way he explains his treatment model to Antje: "I don't view patients as broken people, needing to be 'fixed'; I see patients as wounded, needing to be healed. Just because it's in your mind doesn't mean the injury isn't real. Your wounds are as genuine as those of a soldier on the battlefield. We just need to find the right way to heal them... Just like a soldier, you might never be whole. Sometimes a soldier loses an eye, or a leg. That part will always be missing, but he learns to adapt. You can't see your treatment as a complete success, or a complete failure. You may simply need to adapt." This mindset hints that he may have treated wounded soldiers personally (perhaps he was a battlefield medic?), and is likely to have treated shell-shocked veterans after the war. He understands these poor suffering souls aren't mentally inferior, just wounded. And to turn one's back on the wounded is abhorrent to him, so once rumors of what the Nazi Party is doing reach him, he takes steps to try to insulate his own private clinic in the city from being impacted. Not being funded by the state turns out to be helpful, though it's not quite enough. Dr. Adrion keeps his eyes open for potential allies and assistance in protecting his patients. Somehow, I'm not sure how yet, he manages to get in contact with the Diamond Network. He apparently earns their trust--this likely is connected to the hidden passage he has in his own office, maybe he uses it to assist a patient or visitor with connections to the Network--and is contacted by Josef Diamant himself. Dr. Adrion is surprised and humbled by the attention; Diamant never trusts anyone right off the bat, and in fact has a kind of nasty reputation for the ways in which he determines others' trustworthiness. So Dr. Adrion has to be quite convincing to win him over, and it likely involves lots of spying on him to make sure he's the real deal. Once this is established, Diamant offers Dr. Adrion a gift: A jack of diamonds playing card. Diamant's nickname is the Jack of Diamonds; whoever owns one of his coveted playing cards has a near-guaranteed out in case of emergency. Diamant is effectively letting Dr. Adrion know that he trusts him enough as an ally to give him ensured assistance from the Network when he needs it, no questions asked, no vetting necessary. All he needs is for a Network member to be nearby to collect the card at the appropriate time. He thanks Diamant for the card and promises to use it judiciously. Dr. Adrion steps in to personally handle a new case that presents at his clinic one day. Antje Werner has been in and out of numerous psychiatric facilities since the birth of her daughter Senta and the stillbirth of Senta's twin brother; although her rather psychotic symptoms have somewhat abated over time, she's still "not quite right," according to her husband Jürgen, who does almost all the talking when she's admitted. He seems skeptical that Dr. Adrion's clinic can make any difference for Antje's treatment-resistant condition, hinting that she might be better served by one of the state-run facilities--a comment to which Antje finally speaks up and objects, insisting that she's already tried those clinics without luck, so she hopes a different approach such as Adrion's might help. These comments pique Dr. Adrion's interest when a nurse fills him in, and he asks her to let the Werners know that not only will he accept Antje as a patient but he'd like to speak with them both in person. He meets with the couple in his office; Jürgen is polite, yet very slightly distrustful and skeptical; whereas Antje hardly talks at all, though Dr. Adrion senses it has nothing to do with her not wanting to speak. He steals glances at her while listening to and nodding at her husband's rather condescending words. Antje remains respectfully quiet and lets him speak for her like a traditional wife would, yet Dr. Adrion senses the resentment simmering just under the surface. Antje WANTS to speak up, but something is preventing her. Jürgen never makes any alarming, abusive, or threatening comments; but the fact that the one time Antje did speak up was when he suggested she'd be better off at a state-run facility speaks volumes. The Nazi Party has control over those clinics and ultimately determines what happens to their patients. Dr. Adrion runs one of the few clinics that's still not state funded, meaning he doesn't answer to the Nazis. Jürgen believes his wife would be best served in a Nazi-run facility whereas Antje obviously disagrees enough to make it known. There's a rift between the two, and although Dr. Adrion's unsure of what Jürgen's motivations are, Antje is plainly angry and afraid. He agrees to take on her treatment personally, and promises Jürgen he'll do his best to help his wife. Jürgen remains skeptical, but the flicker of hope in Antje's eyes convinces the doctor that he made the right decision. He does his sincere best to treat Antje, since he genuinely worries that if she doesn't improve enough to satisfy her husband, he may take her to one of the state-run clinics instead, and patients at those places often never officially leave...alive, at least. He could very well be the only thing standing between her and death. Antje's mindset does improve under his care, but it seems to have more to do with simply being listened to and taken seriously than with any psychological technique. Antje is hesitant to open up at first, but once it becomes clear Dr. Adrion has no interest in reporting to the Nazis, and he promises that no word of what they say in therapy will reach her husband, she starts to talk. Then, the floodgates open. Antje lets out such a massive well of confusion and rage and grief that it's a wonder she could contain it all; it's not just her conflicted feelings toward her daughter Senta, but the patronizing way in which Jürgen has long treated her, that have her so distressed. Merely being heard, without judgement, does wonders for her state of mind. She at last tentatively starts to hint that she fears her husband has grown more fanatical as time has gone by and may not have her best interests at heart. This is exactly what Dr. Adrion has long suspected, and despite the seriousness of the situation he's somewhat relieved to hear her confirm this, as he'd been starting to wonder if his own ideas were biased. He's reached the uncomfortable conclusion that he's developed romantic feelings for his patient...and after a while, he's pretty sure she feels the same way. Still, he remains professional, not saying a word about it or acting on his feelings whatsoever, and Antje doesn't step over the line either. They both realize that nothing can come of it, and so continue with therapy as planned. Dr. Adrion figures that the best he can prove his feelings, without compromising the situation, is to ensure her safety, and he can do that by keeping her out of the state-run clinics. When she nearly breaks down expressing her fear one day, he goes so far as to show her a hidden passage behind a bookcase in his office, then retrieves something from his desk and hands it to her: The jack of diamonds card that Diamant gave him. "Use this," he says, "but only when you have the greatest need to do so. I have no others to offer. I'm giving this to you." He's not sure if she'll understand the significance, but when she looks up at him, eyes wide, he can tell that she knows exactly what the card means. This is a lifeline to safety, and rather than use it himself, he wants her to have it. The details of how Dr. Adrion helps Antje next are given in her and Senta's entries. The city starts to descend into chaos as the Allies approach; the Nazi authorities serve his clinic with an order to cease operations and close immediately. Dr. Adrion dismisses his staff and whatever patients are able to leave, though a few nurses and assistants remain to help pack things and close up. Dr. Adrion is in his office hurriedly shoving papers and books into a carrying case when a nurse pops in to tell him he has a visitor requesting to speak with him--Antje Werner. "She has a couple of people with her," the nurse adds, "a wounded soldier--and a young woman who looks just like her." She asks if Dr. Adrion wishes for her to tell them to leave, as obviously he can't treat her anymore; yet Dr. Adrion says to let them in and show them to his office. "You can leave afterward," he adds, "I won't be needing your services any further." The nurse leaves, and Dr. Adrion ponders over what he was just told. He has no idea who the soldier could be or why Antje is with him, but the young woman can only be her daughter, Senta. The fact that Antje has arrived with her estranged daughter, and not her husband, hints at something drastic having occurred. He waits anxiously for them to arrive. A soft knock comes and he opens the door a crack to peer out, then gasps and opens it wider--"Come in! Schnell!" He steps aside--Antje enters, helping to prop up a young Wehrmacht sergeant whose uniform is stained with blood; a woman, surprisingly also in a Wehrmacht uniform, is holding him under his other arm. She really does look like a younger version of Antje. "Here, sit here," Dr. Adrion instructs, and the two women ease the soldier onto the couch where Antje usually sits. "Sorry about your cushions," he pants. Dr. Adrion looks at Antje for an explanation and she provides one. Senta had been at the estate of a Junker resistance sympathizer, Louis Dobermann, when the Wehrmacht arrived to seize control of the property and arrest the Dobermanns as traitors; Dobermann's presumably deceased wife Inga was revealed to be alive, and Jewish. Diamant and members of his Network arrived to assist the Dobermanns--at the same time, an SS officer who's a longtime friend of the family, Gunter Hesse, also arrived. In the melee that ensued, Volker and Senta decided to aid the Dobermanns; Volker was shot, and the two were confined to the horse stables until the army could figure out what to do with them. One of Diamant's associates, a Sinto named Lukas, freed them while making off with Hesse's and Dobermann's horses, and pointed them out to an escape route. They headed to Senta's home, where Jürgen helped tend to Volker's wound, but accidentally let slip that he knew far more of what had only just occurred than he should--Jürgen ratted out the Dobermanns to the authorities. He's a fellow traveler of the Nazis. Senta and her father started arguing as Antje entered the room; when Senta defended the Dobermanns, Jürgen slapped her, which enraged Antje so much that she slapped him in turn, and threatened to kill him if he laid a finger on their daughter again. She, Senta, and Volker decided it was best to get out of there; Antje told them about Dr. Adrion and the jack of diamonds, and now here they are. Dr. Adrion pulls the bookcase away from the wall again. He explains that the passage leads down to an alley and a safe point that's supposed to be monitored by the Network, though he's not sure, in all this chaos, if it still is. Yet if so, "Show your card to the person who asks," he says. "Hold a moment," he adds before they can go through; he gathers some basic medical supplies he has sitting in his office, then pulls out some American paper bills--"Don't ask," he says to Volker's questioning look when he hands them over--and to Antje, "Good luck, Frau Werner, Fräulein Senta. I hope you make it safely. Look after them," he says to Volker, who replies, "I rather think they have to look after me. Danke, Herr Doktor," and he and Senta enter the passage. Antje hesitates long enough to grasp Dr. Adrion's hand, staring him in the eyes; she looks like she wants to talk, swallowing, eyes glistening, yet no words come. Dr. Adrion offers a slight smile and nods, clasps her hand back, then lets go. Antje disappears into the passage; Dr. Adrion closes it, pauses to take in and let out a breath, then finishes his hasty packing and hurries out of his office for the last time. He manages to get out of the city on his own, having multiple friends and contacts related and unrelated to the Network; he goes to live for a while with an acquaintance in the country. When it's safe enough, he ventures back to the city. It's been temporarily placed under Allied control though lots of things are still being sorted out so it's somewhat confusing. Adrion needs to show his papers to a soldier and answer some questions to be allowed back in--his obvious lack of Nazi ties finally works in his favor. He locates some people he knows, and goes to look at his shuttered clinic. While he's staring wistfully at the building, somebody approaches, tentatively saying, "Herr Doktor...?" Dr. Adrion turns to look and is sure he's seen this person before but doesn't recognize him out of uniform until his face lights up and he introduces himself as Wil Volker. They enthusiastically shake hands and greet each other. Volker explains how he, Senta, and Antje escaped into the alley and waited anxiously until a military truck pulled up; they worried at first that the Wehrmacht or, even worse, the SS might be behind it, yet the driver deliberately asked to see not their papers, but their card. Although he seemed suspicious of Volker and Senta in their uniforms, when Antje showed him the jack of diamonds he gestured for them to get in the back and cover themselves up. He drove a circuitous route to get them past the SS checkpoints and out of the city to a small farm owned by another resistance member, who allowed them to stay until Volker recovered. Volker voluntarily surrendered himself to the Allied troops and although Antje protested loudly, Senta followed his example; like Adrion they both faced a barrage of questions about their loyalty to the Nazi Party (Volker had been a member, albeit a lukewarm one). Being a woman whose military position was purely honorary, Senta was let off easier, while Volker remained in Allied custody for a few days as they tried to verify his responses. They at last informed him that a witness had arrived with a letter vouching for his assistance to the resistance, and though his motions would be under observation, he was free to go. Volker and Senta were quite confused about the identities of this witness and letter writer, until the former came forward to meet them: a Jewish doctor named Tobias Schäfer. He'd served the Dobermann household and had escaped along with them (strangely, he said it was the SS officer, Hesse, who helped them get away); they went to stay in a small mountain town whose residents Dobermann had helped out in the past, with Schäfer returning to the city when he could. When word of Volker's surrender reached the Dobermanns, they wrote a letter confirming that he and Senta had essentially turned on the Wehrmacht and helped defend their estate during their escape. Dr. Schäfer, already in good standing with the Allies, volunteered to deliver the letter personally and vouch for Volker and Senta as well. They were allowed to settle in a small cottage at the outskirts of the city, which is where they're currently staying. They'd been wondering what had become of various other people they knew; Volker had just happened to go check out Adrion's clinic this day. "And here you are, like a sign," he says, and lets him know that Senta and Antje, having cut ties with Jürgen (no one's sure what became of him), are doing well, and he believes they'd like to see him again. Dr. Adrion agrees, and accompanies Volker back to the cottage. Senta answers the door before Volker can knock--she saw Volker's guest through the window, and is wide eyed and surprised. She calls for her mother, saying she has a visitor; this results in a moment or two of irritated whispers back and forth before Senta leaves the room, hissing, "I'm telling you you have a visitor! You're being rude. For the love of Gott, just come out and see." She returns a moment later and Antje peers uneasily into the room; as soon as she sees Adrion, however, her face lights up--Adrion's does as well--and she comes out to greet him. Volker explains their encounter in the city, but Adrion isn't listening, and he can tell Antje isn't, either. They stare at each other the whole time before Volker invites them into the parlor for tea, then makes up a reason for Senta and himself to leave them for a bit (this time it's Senta who needs some convincing). Adrion and Antje are left seated alone at the little table, still staring each other in the eyes. Dr. Adrion: "I'm very glad to see you all right, Frau Werner." Antje: "Bitte...just Antje." Dr. Adrion: *smiles slightly* "Antje." Antje: "I'm glad to see you, too." *pause* "I can never thank you enough for all you've done for me." Dr. Adrion: "Most of it you did yourself...but whatever little bit I could help, it was worth it." *they both smile* Antje: "How is your clinic...?" Dr. Adrion: "Ah...no more clinic, I'm afraid. They shut it down right before I saw you last, as it turns out." Antje: *brow furrowed* "Oh...? You're not a doctor anymore...?" Dr. Adrion: "Still a doctor, though in name only...I suppose I'm retired now. I could always try to start up another clinic, but I feel maybe this is a new stage in life, time for me to move on to something else." Antje: "Then, does that mean...I'm not your patient anymore...?" Dr. Adrion: *blinks; pauses* "I suppose that's exactly what it means." *they stare at each other a moment more; Antje reaches out & clasps Dr. Adrion's hand; he clasps hers back* Volker makes a point of announcing himself loudly when he and Senta return; he grabs Senta's arm to stop her from barging in on the other two, and when Senta growls, he says, "TRY to let them have a little space, bitte...?" They enter the parlor; Dr. Adrion and Antje let go of each other's hands and stand up. Antje blushes a bit but she and Dr. Adrion continue looking at each other. "I hope we get to see each other again soon...?" Dr. Adrion says; Antje smiles from ear to ear and murmurs, "I'd like that very much." Dr. Adrion says farewell to her and to Volker and Senta before excusing himself, though he does cast her one more look on his way out; once more they both smile, and she lifts her hand a little, a small wave, a blush in her cheeks. He's never seen her look so happy before. "Mama...?" he hears Senta inquire, before Volker shushes her, and he steps out the door. He knows he'll be returning, many more times. [Klemens Adrion 2023 [Friday, September 8, 2023, 3:00:36 AM]] |